Foot pedal



Feb. 6, 1945.`

J. D. LANGDON ET AL FOOT PEDAL Filed Jan. 22, 1942 INVENTORS E555 QLANGDON JOHN J DE Y TH R ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE I Foo'r PEDAL Jesse D. Langdon, Downey, Calif., and John J. Delany, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 22, 1942, Serial No. 427,712

(Cl. 'M -512) 4 Claims.

The invention relates to foot pedals for operating valves or the like.

More particularly, the invention relates to foot pedals located at or near the oor.

An object of the invention is to provide a foot pedal capable of an oscillating movement, which is of simple construction and .reliable inoperation, and when pressed by the foot of the operi ator recedes from the direction of applied pressure, regardless of the angle or direction of the applied pressure.

An object of the invention is to provide a foot pedal which eliminates the possibility of the operator standing upon the same, effected by a coniform pedal element which is engaged by the foot of the operator and mounting the same'to impart thereto an oscillating motion.

A further object is to provide a coniform foot pedal of suitable proportions wherein the base thereof is extended radially outward from a central stem forming a longitudinal axis with rela'- tion to a mounting base and projecting toward the apex of the cone; said cone having a suincient base diameter to cause the same to easily rotate about the axial line formed by the stem which is oscillatably mounted with a conjoining retaining base to permit relative universal movement between the cone and stem, whereby the foot of an operator attempting to stand thereon will be deflected therefrom particularly as the mounting is provided with means to allow the pedal to recede from any source of pressure exerted against the external surface of the cone.

Further features and objects of the invention will be understood from the following detail description and the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical, central, sectional view of one preferred embodiment of the invention; v

Fig. 2 is a vertical, central, sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the pedal element I is, as shown, of coniform formation, which may be, and preferably is,

hollow; the pedal element may be of metal, cast or otherwise fabricated. The stem II is suitably secured to the pedal element I0, as by screwthreaded connection I I a, as shown.

Secured to the other end of the stem I I is abutton-like element I2, locatedfor universal movement within the cowl I3, the latter having an opening I3a which may be circular, and of a diameter less than the diameter of the buttonlike element I2.

The cowl I3 is suitably supported in the position indicated in Fig. 1 by any suitable means, not shown.

The assembly comprising the mechanism shown includes a mounting base comprising a ring element I'I upon which rests a compression spring I6 surrounding a stem I5. The stem projects thru the spring and forming a plunger having a flange I4 which impinges the curved face of the flange I2 formed on the proximal end of oscillatable stem II. The stem is retained in operative position by the internal flange of sleeve I3 which provides the opening I3a to permit universal movement of stem II on the distal end of which is mounted the coniform pedal I0. The cone Ill should be mounted to permit not more than the apex to Contact floor 2 I. j

When pressure is exerted against the external surface of cone I0 it is caused to recede away from the direction of exerted pressure and is free to recede against the spring I6, turn on a horizontal axis, a transverse axis, or oscillate as the case may be according to the directional stress.

It will therefore be seen thatit is entirely impossible to hold the foot pedal in a fixed position where pressure is exerted by any object of a nature which cannot grasp and hold the cone against rotative or receding movement. The foot pedal and any valve to which it may be attached is thereby protected against abuse by standing thereon.

The shoe of the operator indicated at 20 in Fig. 1, illustrates an initial stage of application of pressure, the pedal element I0 in its normal position being shown in full outline. Upon application of pressure by the foot of the operator pressed upon the pedal element I0, the pedal element is lowered and rotated, say, to its dot-anddash outline position I0 and its stem II to its dot-and-dash outline position I I', whereupon the button-like element I2 is moved to its dotand-dash operated position I2 and the head I4 of the valve operating plunger I5 displaced to its dot-and-dash operated position I4'. In such downward rotational movement of the pedal element I 0, the heel of the foot of the operator pivoting from a fixed pivot point in Contact with the floor, indicated at 2|, less and less area of contact ensues between the sole ofthe foot of the operator with respect to the coniform conguration of the pedal element I0 until the pedal element engages a xed object, in this instance the floor indicated at 2I. Thus, the pedal element Ii) and its stem II are protected against breakage,

The coniform shape of the pedal element and its path of movement, accordingly, defeats any attempt of the operator to standf on the pedal element, and in fact facilitates release by the operator of the foot pedal assembly with mini.`

mum effort and concentration; and as shownV in Fig. l, the disposition of the pedal element above the floor and the angle of conicity thereof is such that the large area of contact of the pedal With the oor protects the pedal and stem against breakage. The foot-contacting surface of the pedal assumes a large angle with respect to the floor which prevents the operator from exerting a strong effective pressure against the pedal, affording additional protection thereof.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, like parts as compared with-the embodiment of Fig. 1 are indicated by like reference characters. lThe embodiment shown in Fig. Zfijllustrates vin particu` lar the mounting of the stem Il by means of a universal joint connection, indicated generally bination'a pedal element of rigid coniform formation, adapted to be engaged by the foot of the operator and when in normal position disposed in a plane at an angle to the horizontal and vertical, said rigid conical pedal element being mounted either xedly or resiliently and articulatedly upon a stem,such stem normally extending horizontally, means operated by such foot-pedal means, a reciprocated element arranged to'actuate or set into ,actuation such operated'means, means in operative relation with said reciprocated element for locating said pedal element in' normal position and means for mounting such pedal element to impart thereto a combined rotary and bodily displacement .movement ,22? such as lcomprising a ball rIIb and a casing 24 having an opening through which the stem II extends, which opening khas a predetermined diameter for vpositively limiting the maximum arc of oscillating movement of .the pedal `element Ill and its stem II, ras appears from the lclot-anddash outlines of these parts, indicated in Fig. 2.

Fig.. 2 illustrates .also suitable means such as a bracket 25 or the like for supporting the housing I3, Venclosing the valve operating plunger I5` and its head I4, .guided within ,the housing I3. A facev plate 26 having an opening 26a, is also shown in Fig. 2 `for mounting the button-like .element I 2 within ythe housing I3. The .expansile spring 21 in this instance is shown of conical outline and abutting the linner 4face ,of the hollow coniform pedal element I0 anda face of the button-like element I2. The Aplunger Vrod I5, also, is shown actuating .a bell-crank 28 having av re'- lturn springlafand operating a shaft 29, .or the.

like.

The advantages gained .by `the employment of the .coniform pedal element I0 in the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2 are'of like nature as vare attained in the arrangement illustrated in Fig. l. In the arrangement of Fig. 2 there are additional advantages, namely, that the pedal element .Ill .affords restricted axial turning about its stem II'and partial bodily rotation ,of the pedal element IU, itself, with respect to its stem II, restricted by the spring 21. T he arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2 possesses the further .advantage that the fixed object against which the pedal element may be brought to its final position, isa bracket or equivalent serving also for maintaining thereon the housing I3 of the operating mechanism.

From the above, it appears that our invention affords foot-pedalling means comprising in com- ,1&5

, a flanged stem in contact with the plunger and lWhereas wey have described our invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be-un-- derstood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit ,of the invention.

We claim:

l. A pedal assembly -of the kind described comprising a support, avfianged -plunger resiliently and horizontally mounted. in said support,

universally mounted relative to lsaidsupport and plunger, the kdistal end of said ,stem surmounted by a coniform foot ypedal having a sufliciently steep surface with relation to the plane of vthe stem axis and a suicient base diameter extending radially .outward .of .said stem to provide such leverage Vand to present the required external `face angularity for the cone with relationto said stem to permit of easy rotation of said cone about the axial line vformed .by said stem, whereby the pedal will recede away from the 4direction .of :continued pressure .and turn about the axial ,line formed by `thestem. n

2. In combination, a support, a stem longitudinally and horizontally `mounted with relation to said support, said `support including means for universally mounting the stem of a pedal; a cone .mounted on the distal lend of the last mentioned is mounted on the distal end of the stem by a.

universal joint.

4. A foot pedal as of claim 2 wherein the cone has a hollow base and is internally attached adjacent the apex .of the cone JESSE D. LANGDON.

,JOHN J. DELANY. 

